Method of providing external device list and image display device

ABSTRACT

An image display device including a display; a first input configured to receive a first image signal input from a first external device connected to the image display device; a second input configured to receive a second image signal input from a second external device connected to the image display device; and a controller coupled with the display, the first input and the second input. The controller is further configured to display, on the display, a plurality of external device icons including a first external device icon and a second external device icon, wherein a first default image identifying the first input is displayed on the first external device icon and a second default image identifying the second input is displayed on the second external device icon, change the first default image to a first image based on the first image signal received from the first external device in response to the first external device icon being selected if the first external device is connected to the image display device, and change the first image back to the first default image in response to the second external device icon being selected, wherein the first image is displayed at a position corresponding to an area where the first external device icon is displayed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of co-pending U.S. application Ser.No. 15/788,510 filed on Oct. 19, 2017, which is a Continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/390,198 filed on Dec. 23, 2016 (now U.S. Pat.No. 9,800,924 issued on Oct. 24, 2017), which is a Continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/535,735, filed on Jun. 28, 2012 (now U.S. Pat.No. 9,532,102 issued on Dec. 27, 2016), which claims priority under 35U.S.C. § 119(a) and 35 U.S.C. § 365 to application No. 10-2011-0088863,filed in Republic of Korea on Sep. 2, 2011, all of which are herebyexpressly incorporated by reference into the present application.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to an image display device, and moreparticularly, to a method for providing a list of external devicesthereof.

Recently, digital TV services using a wire or wireless communicationnetwork are becoming more common. The digital TV services providevarious services that typical analog broadcasting services cannotprovide.

For example, an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service (i.e., onetype of the digital TV services) provides interaction through which auser may actively select kinds of watching programs and watching time.The IPTV service may provide various additional services such asinternet search, home shopping, and online game on the basis of theinteraction.

SUMMARY

Embodiments provide a method of providing an external device list, whichallows a user to recognize an input switch in advance before an imagesignal of an external device, which is applied to an image displaydevice, is switched for input, and an image display device thereof.

In one embodiment, a method of providing an external device list to animage display device includes: displaying a plurality of external deviceicons connectible to the image display device; positioning a pointer ona first external device icon among the plurality of external deviceicons; and displaying on a screen of the image display device an imagesignal of an external device corresponding to the first external deviceicon having the pointer thereon.

In another embodiment, an image display device includes: a display unitdisplaying a plurality of external device icons connectible to the imagedisplay device; and a control unit performing a control to display animage signal of an external device corresponding to a first externaldevice icon having a pointer thereon when the pointer is positioned onthe first external device icon among the plurality of external deviceicons.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent fromthe description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of a broadcast systemaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a configuration of a broadcast systemaccording to another embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a method for transmitting/receiving databetween an image display device and a service provider according to anembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imagedisplay device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imagedisplay device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a platform structure of an image displaydevice according to embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a method of controlling an operation of animage display device by using a remote control device according to anembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a remotecontrol device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a configuration of a home screen displayedon an image display device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing an externaldevice list according to a first embodiment.

FIGS. 11 to 17 are views illustrating a screen that provides an externaldevice list of an image display device according to the firstembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a method for providing an external device list and an imagedisplay device thereof will be described in more detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings.

The image display device as an intelligent image display device having acomputer supporting function in addition to a broadcasting receivingfunction further includes an internet function besides a solidbroadcasting receiving function so that it may have an easy to useinterface such as a handwriting input device, a touch screen, or a spaceremote controller. Moreover, after accessing internet and a computerwith a wire or wireless internet supporting function, a function fore-mail, web browsing, banking, or game may be available. For suchvarious functions, a standardized general OS may be used.

Accordingly, the image display device according to an embodiment mayperform user-friendly various functions because a variety ofapplications may be freely added or deleted on a general OS kernel. Theimage display device may be a network TV, HBBTV, and a smart TV, for aspecific example, and may be applied to a smart phone, if necessary.

Furthermore, although embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings and contentstherein, the present invention is not limited thereto.

The terms used in this specification are selected from currently widelyused general terms in consideration of functions of the presentinvention, but may vary according to the intentions or practices ofthose skilled in the art or the advent of new technology. Additionally,in certain cases, there may be terms that an applicant may arbitrarilyselect, and in this case, their meanings are described below.Accordingly, the terms used in this specification should be interpretedon the basis of substantial implications that the terms have and thecontents across this specification not the simple names of the terms

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of a broadcasting system,that is, a schematic view illustrating an entire broadcasting systemincluding an image display device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the broadcasting system includes a Content Provider(CP) 10, a Service Provider (SP) 20, a Network Provider (NP) 30 and aHome Network End User (HNED) 40.

The HNED 40 may correspond to a client 100, i.e., the image displaydevice according to an embodiment, and for example, the client 100 maybe a network TV, a smart TV, and an IPTV.

Moreover, the CP 10 manufactures and provides various contents. As shownin FIG. 1, the CP 10 may be a terrestrial broadcaster, a cable SystemOperator (SO), a Multiple System Operator (MSO), a satellitebroadcaster, or an Internet broadcaster.

Additionally, the CP 10 may provide various applications besides thebroadcast contents. This will be described in more detail later.

The SP 20 may package contents that the CP 10 provides, and provides thepackaged contents as services. For example, the SP 20 may package firstterrestrial broadcast, second terrestrial broadcast, cable MSO,satellite broadcast, various internet broadcasts, and applications, andthen, provide them to a user.

Moreover, the SP 20 may provide services to the client 100 through aunicast or multicast method.

The unicast method is a 1:1 data transmission method between onetransmitter and one receiver. For example, in the case of the unicastmethod, when a receiver requests data to a server, the server transmitsthe requested data to the receiver in response to the request.

The multicast method is to transmit data to a plurality of receivers ina specific group. For example, a server may transmit data to a pluralityof pre-registered receivers simultaneously. In order for such amulticast registration, an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) maybe used.

The NP 30 may provide a network to provide the service to the client100, and the client 100 may establish a Home Network End User (HNED) toreceive the service.

Conditional Access or Content Protection may be used as a means toprotect contents transmitted from the system. As examples of theConditional Access or Content Protection, methods such as CableCARD andDownloadable Conditional Access System (DCAS) may be used.

Moreover, it is possible for the client 100 to provide contents via anetwork. In this case, the client 100 may become a CP, and the CP 10 mayreceive contents from the client 100. Accordingly, a bidirectionalcontents service or data service may be available.

According to an embodiment, the CP 10 may provide a network service suchas a Social Network Site (SNS), a blog, a micro blog, or an instantmessenger.

For example, the CP 10 providing the SNS service may include a server(not shown) storing various kinds of contents such as texts or uploadedimages that a plurality of users create in the SNS.

In more detail, a user accesses the server of the CP 10 providing theSNS service by using an image display device, and designates accountsthat the user wants, so that the user may confirm messages created bythe plurality of the designated accounts.

Additionally, if a user requests the SNS service, an image displaydevice, i.e., the client 100, accesses the server of the CP 10 in orderto receive the messages of the designated accounts, and then, displaysthe received messages sequentially in order of a corresponding messagecreated, for example, displays them in a top to bottom direction.

Referring to FIG. 2, the image display device 100 corresponding to theclient of FIG. 1 may be connected to a broadcasting network and internetnetwork.

For example, the image display device 100 may include a broadcastinterface 101, a section filter 102, an AIT filter 103, an applicationdata processor 104, a broadcast data processor 105, a media player 106,an internet protocol processor 107, an internet interface 108, and aruntime module 109.

Moreover, the broadcast interface 101 of the image display device 100may receive Application Information Table (AIT) data, real timebroadcast content, application data or a stream event. The real timebroadcast content may be Linear A/V Content.

The section filter 102 performs section filtering on four data receivedthrough the broadcast interface 101 in order to transmit AIT data intothe AIT filter 102, linear A/V content into the broadcast data processor105, and stream event and application data into the application dataprocessor 104.

The internet interface 108 may receive Non-Linear A/V content andapplication data. For example, the Non-Linear A/V content may be ContentOn Demand (COD) application.

Furthermore, the Non-Linear A/V content may be transmitted to the mediaplayer 106, and the application data may be transmitted to the runtimemodule 109.

Additionally, the runtime module 109 may include an application managerand a browser. The application manager may control a life cycle oninteractive application by using AIT data, and the browser may displayand process the interactive application

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a method for transmitting/receiving databetween an image display device and a SP according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, the SP performs a service provider discoveryoperation in operation S301. The image display device transmits a SPAttachment Request signal in operation S302. Once the SP attachment iscompleted, the image display device receives provisioning information inoperation S303. Furthermore, the image display device receives a masterSI table from the SP in operation S304, a Virtual Channel Map table inoperation S305, a Virtual Channel Description table in operation S306,and a Source table in operation S307.

For example, the service provider discovery operation may refer to aprocess that SPs providing IPTV related services search for a serverthat provides information on the services that the SPs provide.

A method of searching for an address list that helps receivinginformation on a Service Discovery (SD) server, for example, SPdiscovery information, may be the following three methods. First, anaddress preset in an image display device or an address manually set bya user may be used. Second, a DHCP based SP discovery method may beused. Third, a DNS SRV-based SP discovery method may be used.

Moreover, the image display device accesses a server having an addressobtained by one of the three methods in order to receive a serviceprovider discovery record that contains information necessary forservice discovery for each SP, and performs a service search operationby using the received service provider discovery record. Moreover, theabove processes may be available in a push mode or a pull mode.

Furthermore, the image display device accesses a SP attachment serverdesignated as a SP attachment locator of a SP discovery record, andperforms a registration procedure (or a service attachment procedure).

Moreover, the image display device accesses an authentication serviceserver of the SP designated as the SP authentication locator to performan additional authentication procedure, and then, performs a serviceauthentication procedure.

After the service attachment procedure is successful, data transmittedfrom the server to the image display device may have a form of aprovisioning information table.

During the service attachment operation, the image display deviceincludes its ID and position information in data that are transmitted tothe server, and a service attachment server may specify a service thatthe image display device subscribes on the basis of the data.

Address information used for obtaining Service Information that theimage display device wants to receive may be provided in a form of theprovisioning information table. In addition, the address information maycorrespond to access information on the master SI table. In this case,providing a customized service for each subscriber may be easy.

Moreover, the Service Information may include a master SI table recordfor managing access information on a virtual channel map and itsversion, a virtual channel map table for providing a service list in apackage form, a virtual channel description table including detailedinformation of each channel, and a source table including accessinformation for accessing an actual service.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imagedisplay device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the image display device 100 includes an NetworkInterface 111, a TCP/IP Manager 112, a Service Delivery Manager 113, aDemux 115, a PSI&(PSIP and/or SI) decoder 114, an Audio Decoder 116, aVideo Decoder 117, a Display A/V and OSD Module 118, a Service ControlManager 119, a Service Discovery Manager 120, a Metadata Manager 122, anSI&Metadata DB 121, a UI manager 124, and a service manager 123.

The network interface 111 receives or transmits packets from or to anetwork. That is, the network interface unit 111 may receive servicesand contents from a SP via a network.

The TCP/IP manager 112 may be involved in delivering packets from asource to a destination, which are received and transmitted by the imagedisplay device 100. Moreover, the TCP/IP manager 112 classifies thereceived packets in order correspond to a proper protocol, and outputsthe classified packets into the service delivery manager 113, theservice discovery manager 120, the service control manager 119, and themetadata manager 122.

Additionally, the service delivery manager 113 is responsible forcontrolling the received service data. For example, when the servicedelivery manager 113 controls real-time streaming data, RTP/RTCP may beused.

When the real-time streaming data are transmitted using the RTP, theservice delivery manager 113 parses the received data packet accordingto the RTP and transmits the parsed data to the Demux 115, or stores thereceived data packet in the SI&Metadata DB 121. Moreover, the servicedelivery manager 113 may feed back the network reception information toa server that provides services by using the RTCP.

The Demux 115 demultiplexes the received packet into audio, video, andProgram Specific Information (PSI) data in order to transmit them intothe audio/video decoders 116 and 117 and the PSI&(PSIP and/or SI)Decoder 114.

The PSI&(PSIP and/or SI) Decoder 114 may decode service information suchas PSI, and for example, may receive a PSI section, a Program andService Information Protocol (PSIP) section, or a Service Information(SI) section demultiplexed in the Demux 115 in order to decode them.

Moreover, the PSI&(PSIP and/or SI) Decoder 114 may decode the receivedsections to create a database for service information, and the serviceinformation may be stored in the SI&Metadata DB 121.

The audio/video decoders 116 and 117 may decode vide data and audio datareceived from the Demux 115, and the decoded audio and video data may beprovided to a user through the Display A/V and OSD Module 118.

Moreover, the UI manager 124 and the service manager 123 may manage anoverall status of the image display device 100, provide a userinterface, and mange another manager.

For example, the UI manager 124 provides a Graphic User Interface (GUI)for a user through an On Screen Display (OSD), and receives a key inputfrom a user in order to perform an operation of a receiver according tothe key input. Moreover, when receiving a key input signal for a channelselection from a user, the UI manager 124 may transmit the key inputsignal to the service manager 123.

The service manager 123 may control a service related manager such asthe service delivery manager 113, the service discovery manager 120, theservice control manager 119, and the metadata manager 122.

Additionally, the service manager 123 creates a channel map, and selectsa channel by using the channel map according to a key input receivedfrom the UI manager 124.

And, the service manager 123 receives service information on a channelfrom the PSI&(PSIP and/or SI) Decoder 114, and sets audio/video PacketIdentifier (PID) of the selected channel in the Demux 115.

The service discovery manager 120 provides information necessary forselecting s SP that provides service. For example, on receiving a signalon channel selection from the service manager 123, the service discoverymanager 120 may find a service by using the received signal.

Moreover, the service control manager 119 is responsible for serviceselection and control. For example, when a user selects a LiveBroadcasting service like a typical broadcasting method, IGMP or RTSP isused. When a service such as Video On Demand (VOD) is selected, RTSP isused for service selection and control.

The RTSP protocol provides a trick mode with respect to real-timestreaming. The service control manager 119 may initialize and manage asection passing through an IMC gateway by using an IP MultimediaSubsystem (IMS) and a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

The metadata manager 122 manages service related metadata and stores themetadata in the SI&Metadata DB 121.

And, the SI&Metadata DB121 may store the service information decoded bythe PSI&(PSIP and/or SI) Decoder 114, the metadata that the metadatamanager 122 manages, and the information necessary for selecting a SPthat the service discovery manager 120 provides.

Furthermore, the SI&Metadata DB 121 may store setup data on a system,and for example, may be implemented using NonVolatile RAM (NVRAM) orflash memory.

Additionally, an IG 750 may be a gateway including functions necessaryfor accessing an IMS based IPTV service.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imagedisplay device according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, the image display device 100 may include abroadcast receiving unit 130, an external device interface unit 135, astorage unit 140, a user input interface unit 150, a control unit 170, adisplay unit 180, an audio output unit 185, and a power supply unit 190.Moreover, the broadcast receiving unit 130 may include a tuner 131, ademodulation unit 132, and a network interface unit 133.

The tuner 131 may select a channel selected by a user among RadioFrequency (RF) broadcast signals received through an antenna, or an RFbroadcast signal corresponding to all pre-stored channels, and mayconvert the selected RF broadcast signal into an intermediate frequencysignal or a baseband image or sound signal.

For example, the tuner 131 converts the selected RF broadcast signalinto a digital IF signal DIF if it is a digital broadcast signal, orinto an analog baseband image or sound signal CVBS/SIF if it is ananalog broadcast signal.

That is, the tuner 131 may process both a digital broadcast signal andan analog broadcast signal, and the analog baseband image or soundsignal CVBS/SIF outputted from the tuner 131 may be directly inputted tothe control unit 170.

Moreover, the tuner 131 may receive an RF broadcast signal of a singlecarrier according to the Advanced Television System Committee (ATSC)format or an RF broadcast signal of a plurality of carriers according tothe Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) format.

Furthermore, the tuner 131 may sequentially select RF broadcast signalsof all broadcast channels stored through a channel memory function fromRF broadcast signals received through an antenna, and then, may convertthe selected RF broadcast signals into an intermediate frequency signalor a baseband image or sound signal.

The demodulation unit 132 may receive the digital IF signal DIFconverted by the tuner 131, and then, may perform a demodulationoperation thereon. For example, if the digital IF signal outputted fromthe tuner 131 is the ATSC format, the demodulator 132 may perform an8-Vestigal Side Band (8-VSB) demodulation.

Additionally, the demodulation unit 132 may perform channel decoding,and for this, may include a Trellis Decoder, a De-interleaver, and aReed Solomon Decoder to perform Trellis decoding, de-interleaving, andReed Solomon decoding.

For example, if the digital IF signal outputted from the tuner 131 isthe DVB format, the demodulation unit 132 may perform Coded OrthogonalFrequency Division Modulation (COFDMA) modulation.

Additionally, the demodulation unit 132 may perform channel decoding,and for this, may include a convolution decoder, a De-interleaver, and aReed Solomon Decoder to perform convolutional decoding, de-interleaving,and Reed Solomon decoding.

The demodulation unit 132 may output a stream signal TS after performingdemodulation and channel decoding, and the stream signal may be a signalinto which an image signal, sound signal, or a data signal ismultiplexed.

For example, the stream signal may be an MPEG-2 Transport Stream (TS)into which an MPEG-2 standard image signal and a Dolby AC-3 standardsound signal are multiplexed. In more detail, the MPEG-2 TS may includea 4 byte header and a 184 byte payload.

Furthermore, the demodulation unit 132 may include an ATSC demodulationunit and a DVB demodulation unit separately according to the ATSC formatand the DVB format.

The stream signal outputted from the demodulation unit 132 may beinputted to the control unit 170. The control unit 180 may output animage to the display unit 180 and a sound to the audio output unit 185after demultiplexing and processing an image/sound signal.

The external device interface unit 135 may connect an external devicewith the image display device 100, and for this, may include an A/Vinput/output unit (not shown) or a wireless communication unit (notshown).

The external device interface unit 135 may be used for wire/wirelessconnection of an external device such as a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD)player, a Bluray player, a game console, a camera, a camcorder, and acomputer (such as a notebook computer).

Moreover, the external device interface unit 135 may deliver an image,sound, or data signal inputted from a connected external into thecontrol unit 170 of the image display device 100, and may output theimage, sound, or data signal processed in the control unit 170 into theconnected external device.

The A/V input/output unit may include a USB terminal, a Composite VideoBanking Sync (CVBS) terminal, a component terminal, an S-video terminal(i.e., an analog type), a Digital Visual Interface (DVI) terminal, aHigh Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) terminal, an RGB terminal,and a D-SUB terminal, in order to input an image and sound signal of anexternal device into the image display device 100.

Furthermore, the wireless communication unit may perform a short-rangewireless communication with another electronic device. For example, theimage display device 100 and another electronic device may be connectedto a network through communication standards such as Bluetooth, RadioFrequency Identification (RFID), infrared Data Association (IrDA), UltraWideband (UWB), ZigBee, and Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA).

Moreover, the external device interface unit 135 is connected to variousset top boxes through at least one of the above various terminals inorder to perform an input/output operation of a set top box.

In addition, the external device interface unit 135 may receiveapplications or lists of applications in an adjacent external device,and then may deliver them to the control unit 170 or the storage unit140.

The network interface unit 133 may provide an interface for connectingthe image display device 100 to a wire/wireless network including aninternet network. For example, the network interface unit 133 mayinclude an Ethernet terminal for accessing a wired network or may beconnected to a wireless network through a communication standard such asWireless LAN (WLAN) such as Wi-Fi, Wireless broadband (Wibro), WorldInteroperability for Microwave Access (Wimax), and High Speed DownlinkPacket Access (HSDPA).

Moreover, the network interface unit 133 may transmit/receive datato/from another user or another electronic device via a connectednetwork or another network linked to the connected network.

Additionally, the network interface unit 133 may transmit some contentsdata stored in the image display device 100 to a selected user orelectronic device among users or other electronic devices pre-registeredin the image display device 100.

The network interface unit 133 may access a predetermined web page via aconnected network or another network linked to the connected network.That is, the network interface unit 133 may access a predetermined webpage via a network to transmit/receive data to/from a correspondingsever.

Then, the network interface unit 133 may receive contents or dataprovided from a CP or a network operator. That is, the network interfaceunit 133 may receive contents such as movies, advertisings, games, VODs,and broadcast signals and information thereon, which are provided from aCP or an NP via a network.

Additionally, the network interface unit 133 may receive updateinformation and update files of a firmware provided from a CP or anetwork operator, and may transmit data to an internet provider, a CP,or a network operator.

The network interface unit 133 may select and receive a wantedapplication from applications open to air via a network.

The storage unit 140 may store a program for processing and controllingeach signal in the control unit 170, and may store the processed image,sound or data signals.

Moreover, the storage unit 140 may perform a function for temporarilystoring image, sound or data signals inputted from the external deviceinterface unit 135 or the network interface unit 133, and may storeinformation on a predetermined broadcast channel through a channelmemory function.

The storage unit 140 may store applications or lists of applicationsinputted from the external device interface unit 135 or the networkinterface unit 133.

The storage unit 140 may include a storage medium having at least onetype of a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card microtype, a card memory type (for example, SD or XD memory), a RAM type, andan EEPROM type.

The image display device 100 may play contents files stored in thestorage unit 140 such as movie files, still image files, music files,document files, and application files and may provide them to a user.

The user input interface unit 150 may deliver a signal that a userinputs to the control unit 170 or may deliver a signal from the controlunit 170 to a user. For example, the user input interface unit 150 mayreceive a control signal such as power on/off, channel selection, andscreen setting from a remote control device 200 and may process thereceived control signal according to various communication methods suchas an RF communication method or an IR communication method. Or, theuser input interface unit 150 may transmit a control signal from thecontrol unit 170 to the remote control device 200.

Additionally, the user input interface unit 150 may deliver to thecontrol unit 170 a control signal inputted from a local key (not shown)such as a power key, a channel key, a volume key, and a setting key.

For example, the user input interface unit 150 may deliver to thecontrol unit 170 a control signal inputted from a sensing unit (notshown) that senses a gesture of a user, and may transmit a signal fromthe control unit 170 to a sensing unit (not shown). Moreover, thesensing unit (not shown) may include a touch sensor, a sound sensor, aposition sensor, and a motion sensor.

The control unit 170 may demultiplex a stream inputted from the tuner131, the demodulation unit 132, or the external device interface unit135, or may process demultiplexed signals in order to generate andoutput a signal for image or sound output.

The image signal processed in the control unit 170 is inputted to thedisplay unit 180, and then, is displayed as an image corresponding to acorresponding image signal. Additionally, the image signal processed inthe control unit 170 is inputted to an external output device throughthe external device interface unit 135 f.

The sound signal processed in the control unit 170 may be outputted tothe audio output unit 185 as audio. Moreover, the sound signal processedin the control unit 170 is inputted to an external output device throughthe external device interface unit 135.

Although not shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 170 may include ademultiplexing unit and an image processing unit. This will be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 10.

Besides that, the control unit 170 may control overall operations of theimage display device 100. For example, the control unit 170 controls theturner 131 to tune an RF broadcast corresponding to a channel that auser selects or a pre-stored channel.

Additionally, the control unit 170 may control the image display device100 through a user command inputted through the user input interfaceunit 150 or an internal program, and may access a network to downloadapplications that a user wants or lists of applications into the imagedisplay device 100.

For example, the control unit 170 controls the tuner 131 to receive asignal of a selected channel according to a predetermined channelselection command received through the user input interface unit 150,and may process an image, sound, or data signal of the selected channel.

The control unit 170 may output channel information that a user selectsin addition to a processed image or sound signal through the displayunit 180 or the audio output unit 185.

Moreover, the control unit 170 may output an image or sound signal of anexternal device such as a camera or a camcorder, which is inputtedthrough the external device interface unit 135, through the display unit180 or the audio output unit 185 according to an external device imageplay command received through the user input interface unit 150.

Furthermore, the control unit 170 may control the display unit 180 todisplay an image, and for example, the control unit 170 may control thedisplay unit 180 to display a broadcast image inputted through the tuner131, an external input image inputted through the external deviceinterface unit 135, an image inputted through a network interface unit,or an image stored in the storage unit 140. In this case, an imagedisplayed on the display unit 180 may be a still or moving image or a 2Dor 3D image.

Additionally, the control unit 170 may play contents stored in the imagedisplay device 100, received broadcast contents, or external inputcontents inputted from an external. The contents may have variousformats such as a broadcast image, an external input image, an audiofile, a sill image, an accessed web page, and a document file.

Moreover, although not shown in FIG. 5, the image display device 100 mayfurther include a channel browsing processing unit for generating athumbnail image corresponding to a channel signal or an external inputsignal.

The channel browsing processing unit receives a stream signal TSoutputted from the demodulation unit 132, or a stream signal outputtedfrom the external device interface unit 135, and extracts an image fromthe inputted stream signal to generate a thumbnail image.

The generated thumbnail image may be inputted to the control unit 170 asit is or after being encoded, or may be inputted to the control unit 170after being encoded into a stream format.

The control unit 170 may display a thumbnail list including a pluralityof thumbnail images on the display unit 180 by using the inputtedthumbnail image. The plurality of thumbnail images in the thumbnail listmay be sequentially or simultaneously updated. Accordingly, a user maysimply recognize contents of a plurality of broadcast channels.

The display unit 180 converts an image signal, a data signal, and an OSDsignal processed in the control unit 170, or an image signal and a datasignal received in the external device interface unit 135 into R, G, andB signals in order to generate a driving signal.

For this, the display unit 180 may include a PDP, an LCD, an OLED, aflexible display, and a 3D display, or may include a touch screen usedas an input device in addition to an output device.

The audio output unit 185 receives a signal sound-processed in thecontrol unit 170, for example, a stereo signal, a 3.1 channel signal, ora 5.1 channel signal, and then, outputs the signal as sound. For this,various types of speakers may be used.

Moreover, the image display device 100 may further include a capturingunit (not shown) for capturing an image of a user, and image informationobtained by the capturing unit (not shown) may be inputted to thecontrol unit 170.

In this case, the control unit 170 may detect a user's gesture bycombining an image captured through the capturing unit (not shown) and asignal detected through a sensing unit (not shown) or using itseparately.

The power supply unit 190 supplies corresponding power to the imagedisplay device 100 generally. For example, the power supply unit 190 maysupply power to the control unit 170, the display unit 180, and theaudio output unit 185, which may be realized in a form of a System OnChip (SOC).

For this, the power supply unit 190 may include a converter (not shown)for converting AC power into DC power. If the display unit 180 isimplemented using a liquid crystal panel including a plurality ofbacklight lamps, the power supply unit 190 may further include aninverter (not shown) for PWM operation in order to provide brightnessadjustment and dimming driving.

The remote control device 200 transmits a user input to the user inputinterface unit 150. For this, the remote control device 200 may useBluetooth, Radio Frequency (RF) communication, IR communication, UltraWideband (UWB), or ZigBee.

Additionally, the remote control device 200 receives an image, sound, ordata signal outputted from the user input interface unit 150, and then,displays the received signal or outputs sound or vibration.

The image display device 100 may be a fixed digital broadcast receiverthat receives at least one of an ATSC type (8-VSB type) digitalbroadcast, a DVB-T type (COFDM type) digital broadcast, and an ISDB-Ttype (BST-OFDM type) digital broadcast.

Moreover, since the image display device 100 of FIG. 5 is just oneembodiment of the present invention, some components shown herein may beintegrated, added, or omitted according to the specification of theactually-realized image display device 100.

That is, more than two components may be integrated into one component,or one component may be divided into more than two components, ifnecessary. Furthermore, a function in each block is used for describingan embodiment of the present invention, and its specific operation ordevice does not limit the scope of the present invention.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, unlike FIG. 5,the image display device 100 may receive an image through the networkinterface unit 133 or the external device interface unit 135 and mayplay the received image without the tuner 131 and the demodulation unit132

For example, the image display device 100 may include an imageprocessing device such as a set top box for receiving broadcast signalsor contents according to various network services and a contents playingdevice for playing contents inputted from the image processing device.

In this case, a method of providing an external device list according toan embodiment may be performed by the above separated image processingdevice such as a set top box or the above separate contents playingdevice including the display unit 180 and the audio output unit 185 inaddition to the image display device 100 described with reference toFIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a platform structure of an image displaydevice. The platform of the image display device 100 may includeOS-based software for performing the above various operations.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the platform of the image display device 100 as aseparate platform includes a Legacy System platform 400 and a smartsystem platform 405, which are separately designed.

An OS kernel 410 may be commonly used in the Legacy System platform 400and the smart system platform 405. The Legacy System platform 400 mayinclude a driver 420, a Middleware 430, and an Application 450 on the OSkernel 410.

Moreover, the smart system platform 405 may include a Library 435, aFramework 440, and an application 455 on the OS kernel 410.

The OS kernel 410 as a core of an operating system may provide hardwaredriver driving when the image display device 100 is driven, the securityof hardware and a processor in the image display device 100, efficientmanagement of a system resource, memory management, an interface forhardware by hardware abstraction, a multi processor, schedule managementaccording to a multi processor, and power management.

For example, a hardware driver in the OS kernel 410 may include at leastone of a display driver, a Wi-Fi driver, a Bluetooth driver, a USBdriver, an audio driver, a power management driver, a binder driver, anda memory driver.

Moreover, the hardware driver in the OS kernel 410 as a driver for ahardware device in the OS kernel 410 may include a character devicedriver, a block device driver, and a network device driver.

Furthermore, the block device driver may include a buffer for storing aunit size as data are transmitted by a specific block unit, and thecharacter device driver may not include the buffer as data aretransmitted by a basic data unit, i.e., a character unit.

The OS kernel 410 may be implemented with various OS based kernels suchas Unix base (Linux) kernel and Window base kernel, and may be availablefor other electronic devices as an open OS.

The driver 420 is disposed between the OS kernel 410 and the middleware430, and drives a device in order for operations of the middleware 430and the application 450.

For example, the driver 420 may include drivers for a micom, a displaymodule, a Graphic Processing Unit (GPU), a Frame Rate Converter (FRC), aGeneral Purpose Input/Output Pin (GPIO), an HDMI, a System Decoder ordemultiplexer (SDEC), a Video Decoder (VDEC), an Audio Decoder (ADEC), aPersonal Video Recorder (PVR), an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) in theimage display device 100. The above drivers may operate in linkage witha hardware driver in the OS kernel 410.

Additionally, the driver 420 may further include a driver for a remotecontrol device 200, for example, a space remote controller. The driverfor a space remote controller may be included in the OS kernel 410 orthe middleware 430 in addition to the driver 420.

The middleware 430 is disposed between the OS kernel 410 and theapplication 450, and serves as a medium to exchange data between otherhardware or software. Accordingly, the standardized interface may beavailable, and various environmental supports and interworking withother tasks having different systems may also be available.

For example, the middleware 430 in the legacy system platform 400 mayinclude a Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Experts Group(MHEG) middleware and an Advanced Common Application Platform (ACAP)middleware, and may further include a PSIP or SI middleware (i.e., abroadcast information related middleware), and a DLNA middleware (i.e.,a peripheral communication related middleware).

Additionally, the application 450 on the middleware 430, i.e., theapplication 450 in the legacy system platform 400, may include a UserInterface Application for various menus in the image display device 100.

The application 450 on the middleware 430 may be edited by a user'schoice and may be updated via a network. Through the application 450, itis possible to enter a wanted menu in various user interfaces accordingto an input of a remote control device while watching a broadcast image.

Moreover, the application 450 in the legacy system platform 400 mayfurther include at least one of a TV guide application, a Bluetoothapplication, a reservation application, a Digital Video Recorder (DVR)application, and a hotkey application.

Moreover, the library 435 in the smart system platform 405 is disposedbetween the OS kernel 410 and the framework 440, and forms a base of theFramework 440. For example, the library 435 may include a Secure SocketLayer (SSL) (i.e., a security related library), a WebKit (i.e., a webengine related library), a libc (i.e., a c library), and a MediaFramework (i.e., a media related library such as video formats and audioformats. The library 435 may be programmed with C or C++, so that it maybe exposed to developer through the framework 440.

The library 435 may include the runtime 437 having a core java libraryand a Virtual Machine (VM). The runtime 437 may form a basic of theframework 440 in addition to the library 435.

The VM may perform a plurality of instances, i.e., multitasking.Furthermore, according to each application in the application 455, eachVM may be allocated and executed. In this case, a Binder driver (notshown) in the OS kernel 410 may operate for schedule adjustment orinterconnect between plurality of instances.

In addition, the binder driver and the runtime 437 may connect ajava-based application with a C-based library. The library 436 and theruntime 437 may correspond to the middleware of the legacy system.

Moreover, the framework 440 in the smart system platform 405 includes aprogram, which is a base of an application in the application 455. Theframework 440 is compatible with any application. Its component may bereused, moved, or replaced.

The framework 440 may include a support program, i.e., a program forbinding components of other software. For example, the framework 440 mayinclude a resource manager, an activity manager related to the activityof application, a notification manager, and a content provider forsummarizing sharing information between applications.

The application 455 on the framework 440 includes various programs thatare driven in the image display device 100 to be displayed. For example,the application 455 may include a Core Application that has at least oneof email, short message service (SMS), calendar, map, and browser.

Furthermore, the above framework 440 or application 450 may beprogrammed with JAVA.

In addition, the application 455 may be divided into an application 460stored in the image display device 100 and cannot be deleted by a userand an application 475 downloaded via a network and stored and freelyinstalled or deleted by a user.

Through applications in the application 455, internet phone service,Video On Demand (VOD) service, web album service, Social NetworkingService (SNS), Location Based Service (LBS), map service, web searchservice, and application search service may be provided. Additionally,various functions such as games and scheduling may be performed.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6B, the platform of the image display device100 as an integrated platform may include an OS kernel 510, a driver520, a Middleware 530, a Framework 540, and an Application 550.

When compared to FIG. 6A, there are differences that the library 435 isomitted and the application 550 is an integrated layer in the platformshown in FIG. 6B. Besides that, the driver 520 and the framework 540 arethe same as those in FIG. 6A.

The platforms shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B may be generally available forvarious electronic devices in addition to the image display device 100,and may be stored in or loaded into the storage unit 140 or control unitof FIG. 5, or an additional processor (not shown).

Moreover, the platform may be stored in or installed into theSI&metadata DB 711, UI manager 714, and service manager 713 of FIG. 4,and may further include an additional application processor (not shown)to execute the application.

Furthermore, a method of providing an external device list according toan embodiment, which will be described in detail below, may beimplemented with a computer executable program.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a method of providing an external devicelist through a remote control device according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7A, a pointer 205 corresponding to the remote controldevice 200 is displayed on a display unit 180.

A user may move the remote control device 200 up and down and left andright, or may rotate it. The pointer 205 displayed on the display unit180 of the image display device corresponds to the movement of theremote control device 200. Since the corresponding pointer 205 moves andis displayed corresponding to the movement on 3D space as shown in thedrawing, the remote control device 200 may be called a space remotecontroller.

As shown in FIG. 7B, when a user moves the remote control device 200 tothe left, the pointer 205 displayed on the display unit 180 of the imagedisplay device moves to the left in correspondence to the movement ofthe remote control device 200.

Information on the movement of the remote control device 200, which issensed by a sensor of the remote control device 200, is transmitted tothe image display device. The image display device may calculate thecoordinates of the pointer 205 from the information on the movement ofthe remote control device 200. The image display device may display thepointer 205 in correspondence to the calculated coordinates.

FIG. 7C illustrates the case that a user moves the remote control device200 away from the display unit 180 while a specific button in the remotecontrol device 200 is pressed. By doing so, a selected area in thedisplay unit 180 corresponding to the pointer 205 may be zoomed in andenlarged.

On the contrary, when a user moves the remote control device 200 closerto the display unit 180, a selected area on the display unit 180corresponding to the pointer 205 may be zoomed out and reduced.

On the other hand, when the remote control device 200 becomes far fromthe display unit 180, a selected area may be zoomed out, and when theremote control device 200 becomes closer to the display unit 180, aselected area may be zoomed in.

Moreover, while a specific button in the remote control device 200 ispressed, up/down and left/right movements may be disregarded. That is,when the remote control device 200 becomes closer to or away from thedisplay unit 180, up/down and left/right movements may be disregardedbut only the back and forth movements may be recognized. While aspecific button in the remote control device 200 is not pressed, thepointer 205 moves in correspondence to the up/down and left/rightmovements of the remote control device 200.

Moreover, the moving speed or moving direction of the pointer 205 maycorrespond to that of the remote control device 200.

Furthermore, the pointer of this specification means an object displayedon the display unit 180 in correspondence to an operation of the remotecontrol device 200. Accordingly, besides an arrow shape displayed as thepointer 205 in the drawing, the pointer 205 may have various shapes ofobjects. For example, the pointer 205 conceptually may include a dot, acursor, and a thick outline. Moreover, the pointer 205 may be displayedon the display unit 180, corresponding to a point on the x-axis and they-axis, and also a plurality of points such as a line and a surface.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a remotecontrol device according to an embodiment. The remote control device 200may include a wireless communication unit 225, a user input unit 235, asensor unit 240, an output unit 250, a power supply unit 260, a storageunit 270, and a control unit 280.

Referring to FIG. 8, the wireless communication unit 225transmits/receives a signal to/from an arbitrary one of the imagedisplay devices according to the above-mentioned embodiments.

The remote control device 200 includes an RF module 221 fortransmitting/receiving a signal to/from the image display device 100according to RF communication standards, and an IR module 223 fortransmitting/receiving a signal to/from the image display device 100according to IR communication standards.

Moreover, the remote control device 200 transmits a signal containinginformation on the movement thereof to the image display device 100through the RF module 221.

Moreover, the remote control device 200 may receive a signal that theimage display device 100 transmits through the RF module 221, and maytransmit commands on power on/off, channel change, and volume change tothe image display device 100 through the IR module 223, if necessary.

The user input unit 235 may be configured with a keypad, a button, atouch pad, or a touch screen. A user may input commands related to theimage display device 100 to the remote control device 200 bymanipulating the user input unit 235. If the user input unit 235 has ahard key button, a user may input commands related to the image displaydevice 100 to the remote control device 200 through a push operation ofthe hard key button.

If the user input unit 235 has a touch screen, a user may input commandsrelated to the image display device 100 to the remote control device 200by touching a soft key of the touch screen. Moreover, the user inputunit 235 may include various kinds of input means that a usermanipulates such as a scroll key and a jog key, and this embodiment doesnot limit the scope of the present invention.

The sensor unit 240 may include a gyro sensor 241 or an accelerationsensor 243. The gyro sensor 241 may sense information on the movement ofthe remote control device 200.

For example, the gyro sensor 241 may sense information on the operationof the remote control device 200 on the bases of x, y, and z axes andthe acceleration sensor 243 may sense information on the moving speed ofthe remote control device 200. Furthermore, the remote control device200 may further include a distance measurement sensor that senses thedistance between the remote control device 200 and the display unit 180of the image display device 100.

The output unit 250 may output an image or sound signal corresponding tothe manipulation of the user input unit 235 or a signal transmitted fromthe image display device 100. A user may recognize the manipulation ofthe user input unit 235 or the control of the image display device 100through the output unit 250.

For example, the output unit 250 may include an LED module that isturned on/off, a vibration module 253 that vibrates, a sound outputtingmodule 255 that outputs sound, or a display module 257 that outputs animage, when the user input unit 235 is manipulated or a signal istransmitted to or received from the image display device 100 through thewireless communication unit 225.

Moreover, the power supply unit 260 supplies power to the remote controldevice 200, and stops supplying power to the remote control device 200when the remote control device 200 does not move for a predeterminedtime, so that power waste may be reduced. The power supply unit 260 mayrestart to supply power after a predetermined key in the remote controldevice 200 is manipulated.

The storage unit 270 may store various kinds of programs and applicationdata necessary for controls or operations of the remote control device200. If the remote control device 200 wirelessly transmits and receivesa signal through the image display device 100 and the RF module 221, theremote control device 200 and the image display device 100 maytransmit/receive a signal in a predetermined frequency band.

The control unit 280 of the remote control device 200 may store in thestorage unit 270 information on a frequency band for wirelesslytransmitting/receiving a signal to/from the image display device 100paired with the remote control device 200, and may refer to the storedinformation.

The control unit 280 controls general matters related to a control ofthe remote control device 200. The control unit 280 may transmit to theimage display device 100 a signal corresponding to a predetermined keymanipulation of the user input unit 235 or a signal corresponding to themovement of the remote control device 200 sensed by the sensing unit 240through the wireless communication unit 225.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a configuration of a home screen displayedon an image display device according to an embodiment.

The configuration of the home screen shown in FIG. 9 may be an exampleof a basic screen of the image display device 100. Such a screen may beset with an initial screen when power is on or starting from a standbymode, or a basic screen by an operation of a home key equipped in theremote control device 200.

Referring to FIG. 9, the home screen 600 may include a card objectregion. The card object region may include a plurality of card objects610, 620, and 630, which are classified by the sources of contents.

A card object BROADCAST 610 for displaying a broadcast image, a cardobject NETCAST 620 for displaying a CP list, and a card object APP STOREfor displaying a list of applications provided are shown in the drawing.

Moreover, as a card object that is not displayed on the display unit 180and is disposed on a hidden area 601 but is replaced and displayed whena card object is moved, a card object CHANNEL BROWSER 640 for displayinga thumbnail list of broadcast channels, a card object TV GUIDE 650 fordisplaying a broadcast guide list, a card object RESERVATION/REC 660 fordisplaying a reservation list, a card object MY MEDIA 670 for displayinga media list of a device disposed in or connected to the image displaydevice, and a card object TV GUIDE2 680 for displaying a broadcast guidelist may be shown in the drawing.

The card object BROADCAT 610 for displaying a broadcast image mayinclude a broadcast image 615 received through the tuner 110 or thenetwork interface unit 130, an object 612 for displaying correspondingbroadcast image related information, an object 617 for displaying anexternal device, and a setup object 618.

Since the broadcast image 615 is displayed as a card object and its sizeis fixed by a locking function, a user may continuously watch abroadcast image.

The broadcast image 615 may have a size that is changed by themanipulation of a user. For example, the size of the correspondingbroadcast image 615 may be enlarged or reduced by drag using the pointer205 of the remote control device 200. By such an enlargement orreduction, the number of card objects displayed on the display unit 180may be two or four instead of three in the drawing.

Moreover, when the broadcast image 615 in the card object is selected,it may be displayed on the display unit 180 in a full screen.

The object 612 for displaying corresponding broadcast image relatedinformation may include a channel number DTVI-1, a channel name YBC HD,a broadcast program title Oh! Lady, and a broadcast time pm 08:0008:50.By doing so, a user may intuitively recognize information on thebroadcast image 615.

When the object 612 for displaying corresponding broadcast image relatedinformation is selected, related EPG information may be displayed on thedisplay unit 180.

Moreover, an object 602 for displaying a date 03.24, a day of the weekTHU, and a current time pm 08:13 may be displayed on the card object 610for displaying a broadcast image. By doing so, a user may intuitivelyrecognize time information.

An object 617 for displaying an external device may display an externaldevice connected to the image display device 100. For example, when theobject 617 for displaying an external device is selected, a list ofexternal devices connected to the image display device 100 may bedisplayed.

The setup object 618 may be used for inputting various settings of theimage display device 100. For example, various settings such as imagesetting, audio setting, screen setting, reservation setting, pointingsetting of the remote control device 200, and network setting may bemade.

Moreover, the card object 620 for displaying a CP list may include acard object title NETCAST 622 and a CP list 625. In the drawing, Yakoo,Metflix, weather.com, Picason, and My tube are shown as CPs in the CPlist 625, but various settings are possible.

When the card object title 622 is selected, the corresponding cardobject 620 may be displayed on the display unit 180 in a full screen.

Moreover, when a predetermined CP in the CP list 625 is selected, ascreen including a contents list that a corresponding CP provides may bedisplayed on the display unit 180.

The card object 630 for displaying a list of applications provided mayinclude the card object title APP STORE 632 and the application list635. The application list 635 may be a list, which is aligned beingclassified by each item in an application store. In the drawing, thelist may be displayed being aligned in a popular order HOT and thelatest order NEW, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Thatis, various examples are available.

When the card object title 632 is selected, the corresponding cardobject 630 may be displayed on the display unit 180 in a full screen.

Moreover, when a predetermined application item in the application list635 is selected, a screen for providing information on a correspondingapplication may be displayed on the display unit 180.

A login item 627, a help item 628, and an exit item 629 may be displayedon the card objects 620 and 630.

The login item 627 may be used for accessing an application store orlogging in a network connected to an image display device. The help item628 may be used for the help during an operation of the image displaydevice 100. The exit item 629 may be used for exiting from acorresponding home screen. At this point, a broadcast image beingreceived may be displayed in a full screen.

An object for displaying the number of entire card objects may bedisplayed below the card objects 620 and 630. The object may display thenumber of entire card objects, of course, the number of card objectsamong the entire card objects displayed on the display unit 180.

Moreover, the card object 640 for displaying a thumbnail list of abroadcast channel may include a card object title CHANNEL BROWSER 642and a thumbnail list 645 of a broadcast channel. Broadcast channelsreceived sequentially are displayed as thumbnail images in the drawing,but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, a video ispossible. The thumbnail list may include a thumbnail image and channelinformation on a corresponding channel. By doing so, a user mayintuitively recognize content of a corresponding channel.

Such a thumbnail image may be a thumbnail image on a preference channelthat a user registers in advance or a thumbnail image on a channel afteror before the broadcast image 615 in the card object 610. Moreover,eight thumbnail images are shown in the drawing, but various settingsare possible. Additionally, a thumbnail image in a thumbnail list may beupdated.

When the card object title 642 is selected, the corresponding cardobject 640 may be displayed on the display unit 180 in a full screen.That is, content on a thumbnail list may be displayed on the displayunit 180.

Moreover, when a predetermined thumbnail image in the thumbnail list 645of a broadcast channel is selected, a broadcast image corresponding to acorresponding thumbnail image may be displayed on the display unit 180.

The card object 650 for displaying a broadcast guide list may include acard object title TV GUIDE 652 and a broadcast guide list 655. Thebroadcast guide list 655 may be a list for broadcast programs orbroadcast images of other channels after the broadcast image 615 in thecard object 610, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Thatis, various examples are available.

Additionally, when the card object title 652 is selected, thecorresponding card object 650 may be displayed on the display unit 180in a full screen.

Moreover, when a predetermined broadcast item in the broadcast guidelist 655 is selected, a broadcast image corresponding to a correspondingbroadcast item may be displayed on the display unit 180, or broadcastinformation corresponding to a corresponding broadcast item may bedisplayed on the display unit 180.

The card object 660 for displaying a broadcast reservation list or arecording list may include a card object title RESERVATION/REC 662 and abroadcast reservation list or recording list 665. The broadcastreservation list or recording list 665 may be a list including broadcastitems that a user reserves in advance or broadcast items recordedaccording thereto. In the drawing, a thumbnail image is displayed byeach corresponding item, but various examples are available.

Additionally, when the card object title 662 is selected, thecorresponding card object 660 may be displayed on the display unit 180in a full screen.

Furthermore, a broadcast item set in advance for reservation or abroadcast item recorded in the broadcast reservation list or recordinglist 665 is selected, broadcast information on a corresponding broadcastor a recorded broadcast image may be displayed on the display unit 180.

The card object 670 for displaying a media list may include a cardobject title MY MEDIA 672 and a media list 675. The media list 675 maybe a list of media stored in the image display device 100 or stored in adevice connected to thereto. Video, still images, and audio are shown asan example in the drawing, but besides that, various examples such astext documents and e-book documents are available.

Additionally, when the card object title 672 is selected, thecorresponding card object 670 may be displayed on the display unit 180in a full screen.

Moreover, when a predetermined media item in the media list 675 isselected, a screen corresponding to a corresponding media may bedisplayed on the display unit 180.

The card object TV GUIDE 680 for displaying a broadcast guide list mayinclude a card object title TV GUIDE 682 and a broadcast guide list 685.The broadcast guide list 685 may be a guide list for each broadcasttype. A list for each broadcast type is shown in the drawing byclassifying broadcasts into entertainments such as drama, news, orsports, but various settings are available. That is, the broadcast guidelist may be a list for each type such as drama, movie, news, sports, andanimation. By doing so, a user may confirm a guide list that classifiesbroadcasts into each genre

When the card object title 682 is selected, the corresponding cardobject 680 may be displayed on the display unit 180 in a full screen.

Moreover, when a predetermined broadcast item in the broadcast guidelist 685 is selected, a screen corresponding to a correspondingbroadcast image may be displayed on the display unit 180.

The card objects 620 and 630 displayed on the display unit 180 and thecard objects 640, 650, 660, 670, and 680 disposed on the hidden area 601and not displayed on the display unit 180 may be interchangeable by aninput for moving a card object.

That is, at least one of the card objects 620 and 630 displayed on thedisplay unit 180 may be moved on the hidden area 601, and at least oneof the card objects 640, 650, 660, 670, and 680 disposed on the hiddenarea 601 may be displayed on the display unit 180.

Furthermore, the home screen 600 of the image display device 100 mayfurther include a card object for displaying information on softwareupgrade.

Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 10 to 16, a method of providing anexternal device list according to a first embodiment will be described.FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the method of providing an externaldevice list according to the first embodiment. FIGS. 11 to 16 are viewsillustrating a screen that provides an external device list of an imagedisplay device according to the first embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 16, first, the control unit 170 displays aplurality of external device icons, which allows external devices to beconnected to the image display device 100, on the display unit 180 ofthe image display device 100 in operation S700. Here, a plurality ofexternal devices as external devices connected to the image displaydevice 100 via a wired/wireless network may include a Digital VersatileDisc (DVD) player, a DVD recorder, a Blu-ray Disc (BD) player, a set topbox, a digital TV, a personal computer (PC), a camera, a camcorder, anHDD player, and a memory card. However, they are just examples ofexternal devices. Thus, a device having a built-in recording medium forrecording a file may serve as an external device.

As shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of external device icons 820representing a plurality of external devices are displayed on the fullscreen 810 of the display unit 180. Moreover, the control unit 170determines which external device icons 820 are connected to the imagedisplay device 100 in order to display specific symbols 830 a, 830 b,and 830 c on the external device icons that are being connected to theimage display device 100. Therefore, external device icons that are notbeing connected to the image display device 100 are distinguished. Here,displaying a specific symbol on an external device icon is used as oneexample of a method of distinguishing icons from each other, but thepresent invention is not limited thereto. That is, any one of letters,symbols, colors, and flashing lights may be used for distinction.

The control unit 170 determines which one of the plurality of externaldevice icons displayed on the display unit 180 has a pointer thereon inoperation S710.

As shown in FIG. 12, when the pointer 850 is positioned on the firstexternal device icon 840 among the plurality of external device icons820, the control unit 170 may display an image signal 860, which isinputted from an external device related the first external device icon840 (for example, a BD player), on the full screen 810 of the imagedisplay device 100 in operation S720. Through this, a user could confirman image signal in advance, which is inputted from an external devicebefore switching the input of the external device, so that the user'sconvenience may be improved.

Moreover, when the pointer 850 is positioned on the first externaldevice icon 840 among the plurality of external device icons 820, thefirst external device icon 840 having the pointer 850 thereon may behighlighted.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 13, an image signal 860 of an external devicerelated to the first external device icon 840 having the pointer 850thereon may be displayed on the area where the first external deviceicon 840 is displayed.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 14, when the pointer 850 is positioned on thefirst external device icon 840, a predetermined popup window 861 isdisplayed on an area adjacent to the first external device icon 840, andan image signal 860 of an external device related to the first externaldevice icon 840 may be displayed on the popup window 861.

As shown in FIG. 15, when the pointer 850 is positioned on one of theplurality of external device icons 820 (for example, the second externaldevice icon 841 representing a PC), the control unit 170 displays theimage signal 860, which inputted from an external device (for example,the PC) related to the first external device icon 840 having the pointer850 thereon, on the full screen 810 of the image display device. In thisstate, when an input is received to select the second external deviceicon 841 in operation S730, as shown in FIG. 16, a popup window 870 thatasks whether to select an input switch to a PC (i.e., a second externaldevice) is displayed on the full screen of the image display device 100.

Then, if the input switch to the external device is selected through thepopup window 870, the input is switched to the PC (i.e., the secondexternal device) in operation S740.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 17, an image signal 880 of the PC (i.e.,the selected second external device) is displayed on the full screen 810of the image display device 100.

Furthermore, the remote control device 200 that controls the imagedisplay device 100 may control the input-switched external device. Thiswill be described in more detail.

The remote control device 200 transmits a control command forcontrolling an external device to the input-switched external devicethrough the image display device 100 in operation S750. In response tothe transmitted control command, a control command result of theexternal device is displayed on the full screen 810 of the image displaydevice 100.

For example, as shown in FIG. 17, while the image signal 880 of thesecond external device is displayed on the display unit 180, in casethat a control command of the remote control device 200 is transmittedto a corresponding external device, the pointer 850 displayed on theimage signal 880 of the second external device may be manipulated inresponse to the control command.

By doing so, the remote control device 200 that controls the imagedisplay device 100 may identically control the input-switched externaldevice, so that the user's convenience may be improved.

According to embodiments, since an image signal inputted from anexternal device is provided in advance before input switching, ease ofuse and service efficiency may be improved.

The method of providing an external device list according to the presentinvention may be programmed to be executed in a computer and may bestored on a computer readable recording medium. Examples of the computerreadable recording medium include read-only memory (ROM), random-accessmemory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical datastorage devices.

The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed overnetwork coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code isstored and executed in a distributed fashion. Also, functional programs,codes, and code segments for accomplishing the present invention can beeasily construed by programmers skilled in the art to which the presentinvention pertains.

Moreover, although the preferred embodiments of the present inventionare described above, the present invention is not limited theabove-mentioned specific embodiments. It will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in forms and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Also, these modified embodiments should be understood without departingfrom the technical scope or prospect of the present invention.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. An image display device comprising: a display; afirst input configured to receive a first image signal input from afirst external device connected to the image display device; a secondinput configured to receive a second image signal input from a secondexternal device connected to the image display device; and a controllercoupled with the display, the first input and the second input, thecontroller configured to: display, on the display, a plurality ofexternal device icons including a first external device icon and asecond external device icon, wherein a first default image identifyingthe first input is displayed on the first external device icon and asecond default image identifying the second input is displayed on thesecond external device icon, change the first default image to a firstimage based on the first image signal received from the first externaldevice in response to the first external device icon being selected ifthe first external device is connected to the image display device, andchange the first image back to the first default image in response tothe second external device icon being selected, wherein the first imageis displayed at a position corresponding to an area where the firstexternal device icon is displayed.
 22. The image display deviceaccording to claim 21, wherein the controller is further configured to:change the second default image to the second image based on the secondimage signal received from the second external device in response to thesecond external device icon being selected if the second external deviceis connected to the image display device.
 23. The image display deviceaccording to claim 22, wherein the first default image identifies afirst HDMI input and the second default image identifies a second HDMIinput.
 24. The image display device according to claim 22, wherein whenthe first input is a same type of input as the second input, the firstdefault image is the same as the second default image.
 25. The imagedisplay device according to claim 22, wherein when the first input is adifferent type of input as the second input, the first default image isdifferent from the second default image.
 26. The image display deviceaccording to claim 22, wherein the first default image identifies a HDMIinput and the second default image identifies an AV input.
 27. The imagedisplay device according to claim 22, wherein the first default imageand the second default image identify any one of a HDMI input, an AVinput and a USB input.
 28. The image display device according to claim22, wherein the first default image pictorially represents a type ofcable connecting to the image display apparatus.
 29. The image displaydevice according to claim 22, wherein a size of each of the plurality ofexternal device icons is the same.
 30. The image display deviceaccording to claim 22, wherein the controller is further configured to:highlight the first external device icon in response to the firstexternal device icon being selected, and highlight the second externaldevice icon in response to the second external device icon beingselected.
 31. The image display device according to claim 22, whereinthe first image displayed on the display is simultaneously displayedwith the plurality of external device icons while the first externaldevice icon is selected.
 32. The image display device according to claim22, wherein the first and second external device icons are selectablevia a cursor positioned on the first and second external device icons,respectively.
 33. The image display device according to claim 32,wherein the cursor is controlled by a remote controller interfacing withthe image display device.
 34. The image display device according toclaim 22, wherein the controller is further configured to display asymbol representing that the first external device or the secondexternal device is connected to the display device on the first externaldevice icon or the second external device icon.
 35. The image displaydevice according to claim 22, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to: transmit a control command for controlling the firstexternal device to the first external device, and display an executionresult of the control command on the display.
 36. The image displaydevice according to claim 22, wherein the first image is an image whichis currently displayed on the first external device.
 37. The imagedisplay device according to claim 22, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to display the first default image although the firstexternal device icon is selected if the first external device is notconnected to the image display device.
 38. A method of an image displaydevice, the method comprising: receiving, by a first input, a firstimage signal input from a first external device connected to the imagedisplay device; receiving, by a second input, a second image signalinput from a second external device connected to the image displaydevice; displaying, on a display, a plurality of external device iconsincluding a first external device icon and a second external deviceicon, wherein a first default image identifying the first input isdisplayed on the first external device icon and a second default imageidentifying the second input is displayed on the second external deviceicon; changing the first default image to a first image based on thefirst image signal received from the first external device in responseto the first external device icon being selected if the first externaldevice is connected to the image display device; and changing the firstimage back to the first default image in response to the second externaldevice icon being selected, wherein the first image is displayed at aposition corresponding to an area where the first external device iconis displayed.
 39. The method according to claim 38, wherein thecontroller is further configured to: change the second default image tothe second image based on the second image signal received from thesecond external device in response to the second external device iconbeing selected if the second external device is connected to the imagedisplay device.
 40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the firstdefault image identifies a first HDMI input and the second default imageidentifies a second HDMI input.
 41. The method according to claim 39,wherein when the first input is a same type of input as the secondinput, the first default image is the same as the second default image,and wherein the when the first input is a different type of input as thesecond input, the first default image is different from the seconddefault image.
 42. The method according to claim 39, wherein the firstdefault image identifies a HDMI input and the second default imageidentifies an AV input.
 43. The method according to claim 39, whereinthe first default image and the second default image identify any one ofa HDMI input, an AV input and a USB input.
 44. The method according toclaim 39, wherein the first default image pictorially represents a typeof cable connecting to the image display apparatus.
 45. The methodaccording to claim 39, wherein a size of each of the plurality ofexternal device icons is the same.
 46. The method according to claim 39,further comprising: highlighting the first external device icon inresponse to the first external device icon being selected, andhighlighting the second external device icon in response to the secondexternal device icon being selected.
 47. The method according to claim39, wherein the first image displayed on the display is simultaneouslydisplayed with the plurality of external device icons while the firstexternal device icon is selected.
 48. The method according to claim 39,further comprising: transmitting a control command for controlling thefirst external device to the first external device, and displaying anexecution result of the control command on the display.
 49. The methodaccording to claim 39, wherein the first image is an image which iscurrently displayed on the first external device.
 50. The methodaccording to claim 39, further comprising: displaying the first defaultimage although the first external device icon is selected if the firstexternal device is not connected to the image display device.